U mich- greeks being integrated

[petehsiung]

Here are two articles that discuss about the execs in the IFC and MGC at University of Michigan addressing and promoting and pushing for racial unity in the system. Its not to mention that its unfortunate that the MGC chapters and NPHC formed as a result or consequence of racial barriers they have encountered with the traditional ones. Even so, its still sad to hear that some are ignorant or unexposed.


www.michigandaily.com/content/greek-execs-push-racial-unity?page=0,1

www.michigandaily.com/content/after-years-self-segregation-greeks-say-its-time-shake-system

Not to mention if you heard of this chapter before, Pi Lambda Phi, covered in one of the article, which is mostly in the upper midwest as well as the east coast, just checked out that they are known for which is their "diversity" and "strength through diversity".

What do you think?

[petehsiung]

On the flipside, here is a article that highlights why the greek system unfortunately is a bastion of segregated race and privileges in certain cases, especially notoriously at the University of Alabama.

chronicle.com/article/U-of-Alabama-Studies-Why-Its/99517/

AS well as heard of The Machine? This site is also a archive of articles and info detailing how theyve elected greek leaders to USG, as well as segregation issues.

Looking at those definitely makes me feel passionate yet at the same time intolerant about.

[Tom Earp]

Peter, thank you for posting these links!

Funny that a Northern State with a large GLO membership is finally just getting around to this.

I can understand some of The Southern States as the bastion of the Civil War still being alive and how they behave.

But having graduated from a Kansas School and the first to break the color line in a so called white GLO, it is hard to beleive that other areas have not done so. I have seen more racisim in non White Glos than white GLOs including the Multi and Black Glos.
Is it wrong? Of course it is!

The two HWGLOs to drop the color barrier were LXA and TKE.

Three HWGLOs were the first to also go to HBC: LXA, TKE, and PKA.

So where is the racism?

[petehsiung]

I find that racism, even after the Supreme court in the civil rights era ordered the desegregation of the schools and institution in Alabama unfortunately still persists. Not to mention as we know, Alabama does have a deep seated legacy of racism and segregation that remains and persists in forms down there. Even so it became a tradition that transcends to the universities and institutions (which does not make sense after all) . Especially even after about over 40 years in Alabama, still not much change with breaking the color barriers beyond athletics in the greek system down there.

In reading that, I have found that though these WGLOs down there claim that racism isn't really a problem along with these african americans believing that they do not see it thinking they join because of how comfortable they feel, I do think they are yet to be naive about the problem that is going on. Its even surprising when asked a question to this caucasian person about whether or not he want a african american person, he answered no claiming its a part of their tradition not to accept minorities.

Its also sad that in every homecoming court election, student senate election and presidency election down in Alabama that they have this so called "machine" coalition of mostly segregated WGLOs have power and inevitably, same thing happens, someone who is from a WGLO, which is by nature segregated , running for president or senate or court mostly wins. That has happened as I have read for many decades with only rare cases when a african american won the student government presidency one year, only it prolly did not turn out too well. Yet at the same time, they believe in promoting diversity when I find that they aren't good examples of it by segregating themselves. Ironic isn't it?

After all I believe that the reason these african americans down there do not want to join these WGLOs is not because they do not have anything in common with them ( I know I have some things in common with even a accented guy from UK from back home and race barriers do not affect us at all) but because of fear and institutionalized segregation that is carried on. I think by looking past race and their character as well and what they are about and could do, that is what matters more. Also I believe regardless of whether they are liberal, conservative ( which I know you are a mod-conservative) or a moderate, diversity is actually helpful and essential as in the real world, life is not black and white.

Put it this way, how would big time companies like Google or even financial businesses like Bank of America thrive without diversity esp in terms of ideas?

[petehsiung]

That also reminds me that I remember in our USG election, we had three campaigns run by three presidents with different platforms: one was mostly non greek, one was a good mix of those who are and those who are not and I remember notably one was mostly greek, esp the president was from SX. Yet unlike Alabama down there, I do not think we have what is called the machine. However in spite of how much greek support that campaign of mostly greek members had, the result was that he did not win the presidency. In fact he came into third place with the votes. While the campaign with the Pres who is non greek and vice president who is a female greek member along with a slate of mostly a mix of these greek and non greek, overwhelmingly won with around 50% of the votes.

I might be wrong however Im sure if that SX presidential candidate and his GLO slate were students down there at U of Alabama and they ran for student senate, then assuming the so called secretive "machine" influence existed, they are likely a shoo in as I may predict. But at my school, we let things run naturally without any unfair influence.

[Tom Earp]

There will always be racism of sorts whether it be white/black/yellow/red/ gay or straight.

I sometimes wonder when you post items where you get your experience other than reading about it.

Of course there will a close knitness among GLOs as they want to associate with those they feel comfortable with.

Again different parts of this country are all different. You are from Ca. Lived in Ks. and now Oh. A big diference from you have told me.

Until you walk in some other ones shoes, it is hard to make a true statement about a lot of things.

Just look at the different folks on this site. All a bit different but a common goal! Let we as Greeks show how good we are and do for the positive and good for others!

Some good, some bad of course and none of us who are Greeks want to see the bad!

[petehsiung]

THere will always be that. Even worse as stupid and hard as it seems, integration in the white GLOs or fraternities is difficult to achieve ( not that its impossible) since its based on commonality and what not. Just like marriage and belonging to a church if you get the idea of the comparison?

[Tom Earp]

Peter,
as long as it took to get intergration, it may take that long to move the other way.

Remember also, that many Fraternities started in the South. That may explain a lot of it.
Some of the others who came abit later such as LXA, TKE, PSE, were more open to intergration, TKE, LXA being one of the first two.

As one can, see GLO magazines you can see pictures of what intergration is doing.

In 1965, S N still had a white only clause and Kansas Ruled that those who did would not be allowed to add any new chapters in the state.

Nothing happens over night, and that is one reason for multi/Latino GLOs to form.

[petehsiung]

Tom,

As long as segregation happens, I think there is a reason as stupid as it sounds if you keep in mind, even though its unintentional? I believe many are segregated due to the nature of what they have in common, their line of interest as well as other factors that are "dyed in the wool" such as their institution, tradition, founding history and values that were originally founded on. With that, its far from possible as far as their foundation and their establishment is concerned. Since I know we are not "anti-establishment", I would not want to at the same time argue against the that. As commonality and foundation is what fraternities and sororities are about, its somewhat like "nationalism" in some way based in countries around the world ( just like I know many nations in Europe are mostly nationalist in which for a foreigner to be accepted and become a citizen, they would have a hard time and even for them to be accepted, they are likely to face challenges compared to a native in adapting as well as moving up and what not) as well as belonging to a church based on your comfort zone and what not. In fact I know nationalism and their foundation existed in order to maintain their own character and maintain peace. If you get the idea, would you agree?

[Tom Earp]

Peter, it happened and will still be in the minds of some people.

You are talking about something you have no say over!

Get off of this line of thought, it is stupid. Start getting real and not off the wall.

Sorry don't want to sound harsh, but become real!

[tex]

Two quick points: "Diversity" sounds great, but I see few benefits. The USA will be in better shape when we have a common language and shared goals. Offering driver license exams and govt. forms in 12 languages doesn't help.

Integration in GLOs was promoted by anti-fraternity faculty - mostly in the northeast and Ivy league. Removing the "all white" rules wasn't enough.

[Tom Earp]

tex,
I like your points in the first part of your post! Yes, let us be AMERICAN'S. Let us act like AMERICAN'S!

While diversity has been the calling of this country, let us act like Americans and be the same.

When it comes to Greeks, I can remember when Kansas passed a law about the white only clause in 1965 or I may have become a Sigma Nu and not a Lambda Chi.

While many GLOs were founded in the South, and it took a while to change, they have and two of the first to delete white only clauses were LXA and TKE.

Since then, I hope we will show the way of intergration.

[T J Gordon]

TKE didn't remove a white only clause - we never had one is my understanding. LXA was right there with us soon though.
;D


www.tke.org/news/2008/01/10/happy_founders_day_2008

[Tom Earp]

Thanks, I stand corrected and give KUDOS to TKE! Far more progerssive than most GLO'sw!

[T J Gordon]

LOL - Tom we're all there now and that's what counts!!